Devices for feeding a fluid product into packing containers



Oct. 1, 1968 J. H. G. OLLIER ETAL 3,403,829

DEVICES FOR FEEDING A FLUID PRODUCT INTO PACKING CONTAINERS Filed Sept.21, 1966 United States Patent 3,403,829 DEVICES FOR FEEDING A FLUIDPRODUCT INTO PACKING CONTAINERS Jacques Honor Gaspard Ollier, 17 Rue duGeneral Henrion, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France; Georges Frdric Grosshans, 53bis Rue de Boulainvilliers, Paris, France; and Robert Gaston Masson,Blvd. de Courbevoie, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Filed Sept. 21, 1966,Ser. No. 580,930 Claims priority, application France, Oct. 8, 1965,

4,267 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-571 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The devicecomprises a nozzle having a delivery orifice for the outflow of thefluid product, and a hollow valve slidable in the delivery orifice forclosing it, this hollow valve including, at its outer end, a wallprovided with a hole. Means are disposed in said hollow valve adapted toco-operate with said hollow valve during closing sliding of the hollowvalve whereby said closing sliding of the hollow valve generates asuction inside said hollow valve, this suction being exerted throughsaid hole and the drop of the product formed at the end of the deliverythereof on the outer side of said end wall.

The present invention relates to devices for feeding, for instance intopacking containers, predetermined doses of a fluid product, inparticular a liquid or pasty product (milk, yogurt, yogurt containingbits of fruits, or the like).

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a feeding deviceof this kind which is well adapted to meet the requirements of practice.

According to an essential feature of our invention, the feeding deviceis provided with means for collecting by suction the drops of productthat tend to form when the valve through which the product is deliveredis closed.

Other features of our invention will result from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof hereinafter described withreference to the appended drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical View of a feeding device of the kind withwhich the present invention is concerned;

FIG. 2 is an axial section half view of an embodiment of the deviceaccording to the present invention, this device being shown in oneposition; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the device in a differentposition.

The device with which the present invention is concerned belongs to anapparatus of the type illustrated by FIG. 1.

This apparatus includes an inlet pipe 9 for the product to bedistributed, the feed of this product being controlled by a valve 10consisting of a sheet of a resilient material limiting two chambers,respectively 14 located in frame 50 and which communicates with pipe 9through a conduit 12, and 15 located in frame 22 and which communicateswith a pipe 16 for the feed of compressed air. The liquid from pipe 9flows into a main conduit 11 from which it passes through conduits 13into respective cylinders 3 in which pistons 4 are slidable. From saidcylinders 3 the product is fed to nozzles 25 from which it is deliveredinto suitable containers passing under said nozzles.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a distributing nozzle made according to the presentinvention.

3,403,829 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 According to this embodiment of ourinvention, every nozzle is actuated by compressed air fed through a pipe21, whereas the product to be distributed arrives through pipe 26,provided in frame 50.

The device comprises a valve 51 adapted to close the outlet 52, ofrelatively large cross section, of a distributing nozzle 25. Said valve51 is hollow and cooperates with an axial guide 54 mounted in fixedposition (possibly adjustable). The end wall 69 of said valve 51 isprovided with an orifice 55 of small cross section intended to catch thedrop that is formed at the end of the delivery of the product throughorifice 52. We have designated by reference numeral 53 the chamberformed between said end wall 69 and guide 54.

Said hollow distributing member 51 is integral with a piston 56 adaptedto be displaced by the action of compressed air fed through pipe 21,said piston 56 moving in the cylindrical bore 57 of a hollow frame 58.Advantageously, as shown, hollow frame 58 comprises an extension 59 topermit a good centering of nozzle 25. An orifice 60 is provided in frame58-59 for the passage of the fluid product therethrough.

Piston 58 is subjected to the action of a return spring 61.

Packing rings 62 to 66 inclusive are provided to ensure fluid-tightness.

Guide 54 is integral with a flange 67 centered in hollow frame 58 insuch manner that when said frame is fitted in nozzle 25, the whole canbe secured in position by a locking ring 68.

This device, in combination with means for controlling valves 10 and 51,Works as follows:

For ejection of the product (FIG. 2) no compressed air is fed throughpipe 21 and piston 56 is held in its upper position by its spring 61 sothat distributing valve 51 leaves the nozzle freely open at 52. Thefluid product fed through pipe 26 therefore escapes through orifice 52.

In order to close nozzle 25 when the proper amount of product has thusbeen delivered (FIG. 3), compressed air is admitted through pipe conduit21. This compressed air moves piston 56 against the action of spring 61so that said piston closes orifice 52.

At the same time, a suction is produced in chamber 53 which suctionholds or catches the drops of the product through the orifice of smallcross section 55. Of course, the cross section of this orifice isdetermined in every particular case in accordance with the viscosity ofthe product to be delivered. Advantageously this cross section isadjustable.

The product which has been sucked into chamber 53 is evacuated therefromat the end of the next upward movement of piston 56.

This device has, in particular, the following advantages:

It permits of using delivery outlets of relatively large cross sectionwhile catching the drops so that the device can be used with all kindsof products, even of pasty consistency or containing lumps of hardmaterial.

Furthermore, it permits of obtaining a very good closing of the deliverynozzle.

In this embodiment of our invention the delivery nozzle is mechanicallyoperated, but it should be well understood that the invention wouldapply in the case of other nozzles and in particular of resilientdiaphragm nozzles.

In a general manner, while we have, in the above description disclosedwhat we deem to be a practical and efiicient embodiment of the presentinvention, it should be well understood that we do not wish to belimited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement,disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principleof the present invention as comprehended within the scope of theappended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A device for feeding a fluid product which comprises in combination,

a nozzle having a delivery orifice for the outflow of said fluidproduct,

:a hollow valve slidable in said delivery orifice for closing it, saidhollow valve including, at its outer end thereof a wall provided with ahole,

and a fixed guide in said hollow valve adapted to cooperate in afluid-tight manner with said valve to exert a suction through said holeon the drop of said product formed at the end of the delivery thereof onthe outer side of said end Wall.

2. A device for feeding a fluid product which comprises in combination,

a nozzle having a delivery orifice for the outflow of said fluidproduct,

a hollow valve slidable in said delivery orifice for References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,740 4/1915 Tyson 141-117 1,947,535 2/1934-Schmidt 141-1 17 2,077,938 4/1937 Kutner 239119 X 2,721,008 10/ 1955Morgan 222334 3,118,611 1/1964 Berlyn.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

